Author: Jenny Han
Copyright: 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 384
Rating: Hangin’ with a Good Friend
This is Young Adult Fiction, although I wouldn’t let my 11 year old read it (a few swears that didn’t bother me, and a couple smooches, although the main character is aware of sex)
The first book of a Trilogy featuring Lara Jean, I loved them all – You should read in order.
“To all the Boys I’ve Loved Before”
“P.S. I Still Love You”
“Always and Forever, Lara Jean”
I picked it up at my local library but amazon.com listing tipped me off that it is soon to be a “major motion picture”
I sought out this book based after I saw it mentioned on Instagram as an easy summer read. It is a perfect poolside companion. Don’t skip over this gem because of the YA classification, I’ll read anything and find YA books an easy and quick way to jump start my literary habit after a hiatus.
Lara Jean is a middle child. Her older sister is headed around the world to start college and her younger sister is squarely still in the kid category. Her mother died several years earlier and Lara’s father is a doctor doing his best to raise his girls. Lara notices the love letters she has written to five boys (never intended to be seen) have gone missing and it seems they have been mailed to their recipients.
Of course one letter ends up in her neighbors hands. Josh was Lara Jeans’s older sister’s boyfriend, Lara has always adored him but tries to see him as a brother type. To fend off embarrassment Lara pretends to date another (incredibly cute) boy who received a letter and was her first kiss years earlier. The teenage drama is real and entertaining.
It was a delightful read. The book is well written especially compared to some YA lit I have read. I loved that I still hadn’t pegged the ending. I never knew who was going to end up where or with whom. The plot was believable and still contained enough fun over-the-top teenage moments.
Lara Jean is finding her way, figuring out how to act outside of her older sisters shadow, how to act in a fake relationship with a cute boy you are trying not to fall for, being a good friend and daughter. I also love that she stress bakes, she is at home in the kitchen and is a homebody.
Go ahead a treat yourself to a fun, light read. I suggest you reserve copies of all three books because you are going to want more Lara Jean after you read “To all the Boys I have Loved Before”
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